
For those with tickets, the Cotswold Coach Tour is tomorrow! The tour will leave St Hilda’s College at 09:30 on Thursday 9th April. Please read on for a full itinerary and a taster of what’s to come.
Itinerary
Our tour takes us through villages and towns where the houses are made from Cotswold stone presenting a mellow, yellow quaint picture of English country life (at least it does when the sun shines, keep your fingers crossed!).
Our first stop will be at Burford, a beautiful town approached over the brow of a hill. Here we will stop so that you can visit the old church, the pretty shops with their goods spilling out onto the main street and get yourself a coffee if needed.
Two shops have offered us a 10% discount today. Lynne’s, is a cute little gift shop and the other is a bookshop , the 7th most magical bookshop in England apparently, The MadHatter Bookshop. Just say you are with the Bookcrossing Coach Party to get your discount.
Our next stop is to drop off a book at one of England’s telephone box libraries in the village of Little Rissington. You will all need to take one book out in order to put one book in!

After this we proceed to the charming village of Bourton-on-the-Water with the River Windrush running through the centre and pretty little bridges to cross over; just right for a water release for those that are so inclined! (you know who you are!). Before we go exploring we will do a children’s book tree together.
After this you are free to look at the many shops, have some lunch (I highly recommend the fish and chips at The Windrush Garden cafe) perhaps visit the Model Village, Birdland or The Motor Museum.

Our next stop will be Snowshill Manor, a National Trust Property with a difference. This lovely old Cotswold Manor House was bought by Charles Wade, an eccentric collector, who filled the house from top to bottom with his collections which range from oriental cabinets to bicycles, from model boats to fire engines; anything that was an example of fine craftsmanship. He himself lived in a small outbuilding which can also be viewed.
After looking around the house you can have a bite to eat at the cafe or browse in the shop or the gardens.
Please note that on some parts of the approach to the house there are steep paths.
N.B If you are a member of the National Trust please can you bring your card with you on this trip.

Our final stop on the way home, if time permits, is to see The Rollwright Stones. These are standing stones dating from the Neolithic period. One large stone, The King Stone, is thought to be a cemetery marker and has railings eminently suitable to hang books on!
So…..for full participation please bring along a children’s book in a bag with string/wool tie for hanging, a book for the telephone box, a themed book in a bag with a tie for hanging on the railing around the King Stone, a double bagged book for a water release, and any other books for wild release.
In addition can all National Trust members please bring along their membership card if you have it to hand. Thank you.
Timings
09:30 Leave St Hilda’s
10:15 – 11:45 Burford
11:55 – 12:25 Little Rissington

12:40 – 14:15 Bourton On The Water
15:00 – 17:30 Snowshill
18:00 – 18:30 Rollright Stones
19:15/19:30 Return to St Hilda’s